Top offers for gourmets
If you most enjoy learning about the world through world-class cuisine, you might just want to extend your stay in Slovenia. Slovenian chefs who are advocates of local ingredients and authentic creativity will impress even the most demanding gourmets! Foodies can find something to enjoy in all corners of Slovenia.
Visit the best chefs
True gourmets know that everything depends on fresh and truly high-quality ingredients. What the most renowned Slovenian chefs have in common is that they have the best ingredients at hand: Ana Roš from Hiša Franko finds the ingredients for her masterpieces in nature along the River Soča, Janez Bratovž from the JB Restaurant gets them from his garden and field and at the famous Ljubljana marketplace, and Tomaž Kavčič from the Pri Lojzetu Restaurant at the Zemono Maner uses the traditional “poor man’s ingredients” of the Vipava Valley. Each of them combines their creativity and local ingredients to create unique cuisine worthy of prestigious world titles and accolades. The cosmopolitan nature of the haute cuisine at Villa Herberstein is preserved by Michelin star holder Andrej Kuhar, and many other culinary masters will surprise you with their diverse creativity in all parts of Slovenia.
Ana Roš, World's Best Female Chef 2017, Hiša Franko, Kobarid
Ana Roš is a member of the Gelinaz collective of chefs and was named the greatest talent of 2015 by the Jeunes Restaurateus d'Europe association. She is the only female chef among the renowned Cook it Raw group, one of only six chefs featured in the Netflix series Chef’s Table, and featured in a film about European visionary chefs. She creates her masterpieces in an inviting country house in the Soča Valley. Visit the greatest ambassador of gourmet Slovenia.
Janez Bratovž, JB Restaurant, Ljubljana
This is a chef who is a proponent of combining the elements of earth, water, air, and fire and sweet, salty, sour, and bitter flavours. He is the heart of the JB Restaurant, which is on the San Pellegrino’s Top 100 World’s Best Restaurant list. The restaurant was among the top ten restaurants on the following list You can taste Janez Bratovž’s masterpieces in the centre of Ljubljana.
Tomaž Kavčič, the most innovative European chef of 2017, the restaurant "Pri Lojzetu", Zemono Manor House, Vipava
Currently the only Slovenian winner of the prestigious Italian Cuoco d'Oro award, he is carrying on his 120-year family tradition in the restaurant business in his own creative way. The Pri Lojzetu Restaurant was among the pioneers of the slow food movement, and Chef Kavčič has cooked for heads of governments in Brussels and made an impression at the Expo in Milan by combining traditional cuisine and his own creativity. The Association of Young Restaurateurs JRE (Jeunes Restaurateurs) declared Tomaž Kavčič the most innovative European chef of 2017!
Andrej Kuhar, Villa Herberstein, Velenje
He is a master chef who was awarded the prestigious Michelin star for seven consecutive years while he worked abroad, but now he is sharing his haute cuisine knowledge on seasonally varied dishes with the participants of his workshops at Villa Herberstein in Velenje. Join in!
The best restaurants in Slovenia in 2017
Would you like to know which restaurants have earned the flattering title of the best in Slovenia this year? Check for yourself why they convinced the jury. Embark on the culinary experience of their menus and indulge in gourmet delights with every bite!
Excellence in all parts of Slovenia
Chefs who learned from great master chefs and who have extensive and unique experience create their own culinary masterpieces in numerous restaurants and inns (gostilnas) in all regions of Slovenia. When discovering the best chefs, look out for the certificates of excellence acquired with the help of ratings published by TripAdvisor users and the recommendations of critics and connoisseurs.
Ljubljana: Strelec
This restaurant located at the Ljubljana Castle attracts visitors with its round shape and tables placed next to windows commanding fine views, as well as with the excellent cuisine of the chef Igor Jagodic, who uses local seasonal ingredients.
Maribor: Mak
The world-class cuisine in the city at the foot of the Pohorje Hills will impress you with its element of surprise and the creativity of the chef David Vračko, who gained his experience from renowned kitchens around the world. At this restaurant without a menu, guests give themselves up to the inspiration of the chef himself. Culinary workshops are also offered.
Central Slovenia: Pavus – Tabor Castle, Laško
At the castle dominating the health resort town of Laško, Marko Pavčnik creates dishes full of flavour, colours, and textures. He uses local ingredients, especially those that grow in the wild. The chef also organises culinary workshops in the kitchen of this castle restaurant.
Pannonian Slovenia: Rajh, Murska Sobota
At this renowned traditional Prekmurje inn, Tanja Pintarič carries on the tradition of authentic Prekmurje dishes, but she also creatively transforms them with lighter flavours and makes them visually more appealing. The ingredients are not only locally produced, but they also reflect the stories of this landscape.
Osteria Debeluh, Brežice
Would you like to know how to give dishes from grill the seal of world-class cuisine? In the heart of Brežice, the chef Jure Tomič will undoubtedly convince you that this is possible. With his creativity he skilfully combines the traditional cuisine of the Brežice area with global trends. The dishes are simple, but the ingredients are always of the highest quality.
Alpine Slovenia: Vila Podvin, Radovljica
Not far from sweet Radovljica, known for its honey-making tradition, chef Uroš Štefelin upgrades old Slovenian and Gorenjska dishes with modern techniques and his own creativity, thus developing new Slovenian cuisine. The chef also owns a cooking school with various workshops.
Karst Slovenia: Gostilnica Ruj Restaurant, Dutovlje
In this place known for its Teran wine and prosciutto festival, chef Peter Patajac and his wife Vildana create genuine karst dishes with the very best local ingredients. He returned to his roots after years of working in world-class restaurants in Slovenia and abroad and after competing in numerous international competitions.
Mediterranean Slovenia: Hiša Torkla, Korte
Head to the inland areas of the Adriatic coast, to the heart of the Istria Peninsula, where an old stone olive mill is home to the creative genius of chef Sebastijan Kovačič. His unique Istrian cuisine is complemented by a rich selection of wines.
Choose a gourmet tour
In addition to culinary workshops, some of the featured chefs also offer various gastronomic tours to their epicurean visitors. You can begin your exploration in Ljubljana and then head off to enjoy the flavours of Karst and Istria and other regions. After arriving in Slovenia, you will surely discover that your selected destination also provides culinary tours and programmes.
Taste Slovenia
True gourmets wish to learn about all of the 24 gastronomic regions of Slovenia! This publication features typical traditional dishes from each region.